1969 Javelin

“Introduced in ’68, it got popular fast. Despite all the other sporty cars in its category.” 1969 Javelin sales brochure

Introduced mid-way through the model year, the “Mod Javelin” package added, among other things, an unusual roof mounted spoiler.

Changes were minimal from the 1968 model, though the grille was modified and featured a bull’s eye emblem.

Three “Big Bad” colors became available for 1969: Neon Brilliant Blue, Orange and Green.

Muscle Car Specifications

Performance Model

1969 AMC Javelin SST

Engine Used

390ci/315hp

Zero to Sixty

7.6 sec

Quarter Mile

15.2 sec @ 91.9 mph

After a successful initial year in 1968, AMC changed very little on the 1969 Javelin. Minor trim changes and a slightly altered engine lineup were virtually all that distinguished the 1969 year models from the 1968 Javelin.

Standard options included vinyl front bucket seats, arm rests, full carpeting and interior lights, and this year the door panels were revised. Additionally, a new floor-mounted three-speed manual transmission would be introduced. Later in the model year, all four-speed manual models would come with a Hurst floor shifter. Outside, the side striping was revised and five-spoke Magnum 500 wheels became an option.

Those Magnum 500 wheels were standard on the “Go Package,” available for the second year on all cars with a 343 CID or a 390 CID V8. That sports package included black fiberglass hood scoops, dual exhaust, power disc brakes and an upgraded handling package. In addition to the spoiler, the aforementioned “Mod Javelin” included blacked out, simulated air scoops and simulated exhaust trim.

The only difference to the engine lineup was the deletion of the two-barrel version of the 390 CID V8, which was not available in any AMC car in 1969. The base engine was a 232 CID six-cylinder engine that produced 145 horsepower. From there, buyers could upgrade to either a two-barrel or four-barrel version of a 290 CID V8 that produced 200 and 225 horsepower, respectively. There were also two versions of the 343 CID V8 (two- and four-barrel), which produced 230 and 280 horsepower, respectively. The top of line engine was the four-barrel 390 CID engine that was only available in SST models and produced 315 horsepower.

Total production for the 1969 Javelin fell 26.24 percent from the previous year, from 55,124 to 40,675. Consequently, both models of the Javelin models saw production totals fall as well. While it is likely a safe bet to say that AMC executives did not want to see a decrease in sales, they probably took comfort in the fact that every car in the pony car class saw production decreases during the 1969 model year, as well.

Hardtop

Unlike the previous year, the base model Javelin was outsold by the sportier SST model. Total production for the base model was 17,389, which represented a drop of over 40 percent from the year before. The base price for the base model was $2,512.

SST Hardtop

In addition to the standard features mentioned above, the 1969 Javelin SST added reclining front bucket seats, wood-grain steering wheel and door panel trim and wheel covers. With a total production of 23,286, the model only saw a 10.53 percent production drop from the previous year. The cars had a base price of $2,633.

Pony Car Competition

As was mentioned earlier, every car in the pony car class experienced a sales drop during the 1969 model year. Although there are numerous factors that affected this decrease, one was that interest in the entire class was already waning, as many car-buyers seeking performance had turned to the muscle car class.

Unfortunately, this downward trend would continue for both the Javelin and the pony car class in general. In addition to the shift in attention toward the muscle cars, stricter emissions standards and rising insurance rates would slow sales even more in the coming years. By the time of the first oil crisis in 1973, the pony car class would be all but extinct.

Performance Statistics

The Big Bad Javelin Screams Look At Me

The “Big Bad” Javelins had some of the coolest color combinations on the planet. American Motors and competitors Dodge and Plymouth pioneered the use of these neon color schemes but it was AMC that struck first. These were the cars that you wanted if you wanted to be seen. Sales were very good for little AMC but miniscule compared to the offerings from Ford and Chevrolet. Hence it is much more difficult to find Javelin survivors than other pony cars from the same era. Collectors take note.